The repairs of the former Prior in Pardubice have begun, preceded by demolition

Pardubice – Demolition work necessary for the modernization of the former department store Prior has been completed in Pardubice. The construction company will now begin the reconstruction of the shopping center, which was the first of its kind in Eastern Bohemia. Repairs to the building, featuring an unconventional red skeleton, are expected to be completed in 2022, the investor stated in a press release.

The center has been closed since autumn 2019. Repairs were initially slated to be finished by the end of last year. However, due to the building's poor condition, they will extend until the middle of next year. The former Prior is owned by the Atrium group. The original design of Prior was conceived by architect Anděla Drašarová, but her proposal was ultimately revised by Růžena Žertová, who specialized in the construction of department stores.

The construction of the Prior department store took place from 1971 to 1974. At that time, Prior became the first shopping center in Eastern Bohemia. The ground floor housed groceries and a stationery shop. The second floor featured televisions and clothing. The top, third floor was home to administrative offices, as well as an employee canteen and locker rooms.

The red skeleton with blue retractable awnings that shaded the ground-floor windows caught the attention of customers. The unique red facade, which was once disliked by the local communist party, will be preserved by the new owner.

After Prior, the department store was occupied by the K-Mart chain, followed later by Tesco. Between 2007 and 2009, the investor built the Afi Shopping Center next to it, now known as Atrium. The two buildings are interconnected and will remain so.

"The building will meet the most modern requirements but will retain its unique original exterior. The three-story building with a flat roof will continue to be adorned externally by a steel facade combined with brick walls. The new Prior will be directly connected to the Palace Pardubice not only on the ground floor but also in the garages and on the second above-ground floor," said PR consultant Adéla Kubaštová.